February

Lawyers Journal

News from the Courts

The Supreme Judicial Court appointed Thomas G. Ambrosino, the
former mayor of Revere, as its executive director, effective Jan.
11.

Ambrosino implements the policies set by the SJC's justices and
directs the daily administration of the Court. He also assists the
justices in implementing recent court management reforms.

Ambrosino has management, legal, financial and personnel
experience. As mayor of Revere from 2000 to the end of 2011, he
improved the city's fiscal health by raising its bond rating and
increasing reserves, implementing a major capital improvement
campaign, and negotiating and concluding multiple municipal
collective bargaining agreements. He was a sole practitioner in
Revere and a litigation associate at Palmer & Dodge in
Boston.

A native and current resident of Revere, he graduated cum
laude from Harvard Law School and summa cum laude
from Boston University.

His civic work since 2008 includes serving on the executive
committee of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the board
of the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, a nonprofit advocate
for afterschool opportunities for public school children.

"Tom has outstanding skills and an impressive history in building
broad-based support among diverse constituents. The justices look
forward to working with him in the challenging years ahead," said
SJC Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland.

Ambrosino succeeds Clifford Allen, the reporter of decisions for
the appellate courts.

TAUNTON TRIAL COURT OPENS

The Massachusetts Trial Court opened the 146,000-square-foot
building Taunton Trial Court at a special event for employees,
local officials and area residents on Dec. 16. Lt. Gov. Timothy
Murray and Supreme Judicial Court Justice Robert Cordy were among
the speakers in the program hosted by Chief Justice for
Administration & Management Robert A. Mulligan.

Taunton District Court, Bristol County Juvenile Court and Probate
and Family Court, and Southeast Housing Court began operations in
the new court building in June. The courthouse features eight
courtrooms, modern information technology and digital recording
capability, handicapped access, secure detention areas, a jury pool
and the district attorney's office.

The building was designed by Leers Weinzapfel and constructed by
Daniel O'Connell's Sons under the direction of the Massachusetts
Division of Capital Asset Management and the Massachusetts Trial
Court.

RUANE JUDICIAL CENTER OPENS IN SALEM

A 195,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art J. Michael Ruane Judicial
Center opened Dec. 12 with a phased-in relocation of the Essex
County Superior Court, Salem District Court, Essex County Juvenile
Court and Northeast Housing Court. The Essex County District
Attorney's Office is also in the building. The Essex County Law
Library was scheduled to open in January in the historic, former
First Baptist Church building of the complex.

The new courthouse features 11 courtrooms, modern information
technology and digital recording capability, handicapped
accessibility and secure detention areas.?The judicial center was
designed by Goody Clancy Architects and constructed by Daniel
O'Connell's Sons under the direction of the Massachusetts Division
of Capital Asset Management and the Massachusetts Trial
Court.

SJC ENDORSES JUDICIAL HIRING TASK FORCE'S FINAL
REPORT

The Supreme Judicial Court announced on Jan. 5 that it had
endorsed the recommendations in the final report of the Task Force
on Hiring in the Judicial Branch, which made "recommendations
designed to ensure a fair system with transparent procedures in
which the qualifications of an applicant are the sole criterion in
hiring and promotion."

The 10-member task force, which was formed Nov. 18, 2010, was
chaired by Scott Harshbarger, former Massachusetts attorney
general. It recommended a full commitment from the top down to
merit-based hiring and promotion throughout the court system, based
on seven well-known elements designed to recruit and cultivate a
talented, high-quality workforce.

To achieve success, the task force emphasizes the need for
continuous training and performance reviews and a supportive
culture in which all employees are united in common goals and an
understanding of the system's mission and shared values.

"A well trained, highly motivated work force is critical to
fulfilling our constitutional mission," said SJC Chief Justice
Roderick L. Ireland. "The timing of their work perfectly
complements our efforts to recruit a court administrator and to
engage in an intensive strategic planning initiative aimed at
identifying and assessing the court system's capital, technological
and human resources needs of the future."

The task force's first two reports focused on hiring and promotion
in the Probation Department and the critical situation that led the
court to create the task force. The subsequent reports dealt with
hiring and promotion of court officers, administrative personnel
and employees of the offices of the appointed and elected clerks,
registers and land court recorder.